Free The Quality of Love by Rosie Harris Page B

reaction.
    â€˜Yes, yes, of course I am,’ she said breathlessly. ‘You startled me, that’s all.’
    â€˜I thought you’d seen me; you were staring over in my direction for long enough. Comeon,’ he picked up her case, ‘our train is in and we’ll miss it unless we hurry.’
    Sarah followed him, dogging his steps as other passengers barged past them in the opposite direction. She’d dreamed of him sweeping her into his arms, saying how pretty she looked in her new clothes and how wonderful it was that they were going away together, but he hadn’t even kissed her, she thought unhappily.
    The train was packed; they found two empty seats but they were at opposite sides of the carriage – she had a corner seat and Gwyn was squashed in between a rather large man and a middle-aged lady, so they weren’t even able to sit together.
    Gwyn had put both their cases up into the luggage rack but even those weren’t side by side, Sarah thought forlornly. They’d hardly sat down before a porter came along the platform, slamming shut the carriage doors. The guard blew his whistle and with a noisy belch of steam the train moved out of the station.
    She stared across at Gwyn, hoping for a reassuring smile, but he’d pulled a newspaper out of his pocket and all she could see was the top of his thick brown hair as he sat there reading it. He looked more like a businessman or a commercial traveller than someone embarking on the very daring adventure of taking his girlfriend away for the first time, she mused.
    Her thoughts were diverted as the ticket collector came along the corridor and into theircarriage. She felt his gaze fall on her and for a moment she felt guilty because she hadn’t got a ticket and she didn’t know if Gwyn had bought tickets for both of them or not; furthermore, she didn’t even know where they were going.
    As Gwyn held out their tickets to be punched her moment of panic faded. She was being stupid; of course he’d bought both tickets and of course he knew where they were going, so she didn’t have to say or do anything.
    As he looked in her direction she gave a tremulous smile and her spirits soared as he grinned back at her and winked. Suddenly, knowing how much he cared and how much she figured in his thoughts, all her fears vanished. How could he kiss her or even talk to her when they were surrounded by strangers?
    Reassured, she relaxed and settled back more comfortably in her seat, revelling in the thought of how much she meant to him, and she spent the rest of the journey looking out the window enjoying the view of the passing countryside. They’d left Cardiff behind them now. The landscape had changed and they were travelling through places she’d never heard of before; she even caught a glimpse of the sea.
    Sarah wasn’t sure how long they’d been on the train or where their destination was, but she trusted Gwyn. When he stood up and lifted down their cases she followed him out into thecorridor and as the train ground to a halt she let him help her down on to the platform.
    Once their tickets had been punched and they were through the barrier, Gwyn paused in a quiet corner of the station entrance and put down their cases.
    â€˜You look like a frightened rabbit,’ he murmured as he pulled her into his arms. ‘I had no idea that everywhere would be so busy or I might have suggested travelling at a different time of day so that at least we could have sat together during the journey.’
    â€˜Never mind, we’re here now.’ She smiled uncertainly. She looked around her questioningly. ‘Exactly where are we?’
    â€˜We’re in Porthcawl, which is about twenty-five miles from Cardiff,’ he told her.
    â€˜Oh!’ She looked slightly crestfallen. ‘I thought that perhaps we were going to your home in Aberdare.’
    â€˜Are you twp, cariad?’ he asked shaking his head.